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Dangling Modifiers Can Be Dangerous. UWF WRITING LAB RULES OF THUMB FOR DANGLING AND MISPLACED MODIFIERS. From Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon. When flashing, exit elevator. SAY WHAT?.
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UWF WRITING LABRULES OF THUMB FOR DANGLING AND MISPLACED MODIFIERS From Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon Created by April Turner Revised by Mamie Webb Hixon
When flashing, exit elevator.This modifier dangles unless the subject of the sentence (the understood “you”) is flashing.
As an instructor, the following official course shells have been created for you in eLearning.
As an instructor, the following official course shellshave been created for you in eLearning.The phrase “as an instructor” needs a word to describe. That word is the subject of the sentence – “course shells.” Since “course shells’ is not the agent being desribed, the end result is . . .
So who’s rapidly sending the photo – persons with ill-intent or the person with the iPhone? • If you suspect you are about to become a victim of kidnapping, rape, robbery or assault, point your iPhone at the suspicious person and push the Ice Pics button on the iPhone. IcePics will email a picture of the bad guy along with the GPS location of that photo instantly to contacts pre-selected by the owner. By rapidly sending a photo of a person to remote emails, persons with ill-intent will think twice because their chances of being caught rise astronomically.
A Dangling Modifier • Dangling modifiers are words or phrases which “dangle” because they have no word in the sentence to describe: While taking a shower, the doorbell rang. The doorbell was taking a shower?
A Dangling Modifier • As an instructor, the following official course shellshave been created for you in eLearning. • As an instructor, you have the following official course shells created for you in eLearning.
After hearing both sides of the argument, the judge decided the case. or a decision was made. the judge decided the case.
To ensure that all requirements are met, a passing score on the test is needed. or each person must pass a test. each person must pass a test.
After filling out the information, the application was turned in. or please return this application. please return this application. (You is the understood subject.)
REVISING DANGLING MODIFIERS Reword the part of the sentence following the dangling modifier, or reword the dangling modifier itself.
Revise dangling modifiers • by adding a headword—a noun or pronoun that is described: • While Iwas taking a shower, the doorbell rang. • OR • While taking a shower, I heard the doorbell ring.
Here are some modifiers in search of a subject – a word to modify Before swimming, . . . Exhausted by the hot weather, . . . Working ten hours a day, six days a week, . . . In making a career decision, . . . After moving all the outdoor furniture into the garage, . . . In filling out the form, . . . Before starting to bake a cake, . . . To be an SGA officer, . . . In order to earn money for your tuition, . . .
DANGLING MODIFIERS Before swimming, heavy meals should be avoided. avoid heavy meals. Exhausted by the hot weather, there was nothing to do but lie in the shade. we decided to lie in the shade. Working ten hours a day, six days a week, John’s first novel was completed in six months. John completed his novel in six months.
DANGLING MODIFIERS In making a career decision, my adviser was a big help. I received good help from my adviser. After moving all the outdoor furniture into the garage, there was no room left for the car. we had no room left for the car. In filling out the form, an original and two copies are required. you need an original and two copies.
MORE DANGLING MODIFIERS Before starting to bake a cake, assemble all of the ingredients. all of the ingredients need to be assembled. To be an SGA officer, you need above average grades. your grades need to be above average. In order to earn money for your tuition, you must get a job. it’s important that you get a job.
MORE DANGLING MODIFIERS “In addition to being ugly and inappropriate, the students often make grammatical errors on their signs.” “In addition to the signs’ being ugly and inappropriate, the students often make grammatical errors on their signs.”
A Misplaced Modifier • is placed too close to some other word that it does not intend to modify: • I only speak one language. • All you ever do is speak one language?
ONLYPlace only next to what it modifies. I hit him only in the eye. Only I hit him in the eye. I only hit him in the eye. I hit him in the eye only.
Revise misplaced modifiers • by placing the modifier next to its headword: • I speak only one language.
REVISING MISPLACED MODIFIERSMove the modifier next to the word it is actually modifying. • Toyota may be held liable for the car to the plaintiff with broken wheels. • Toyota may be held liable to the plaintiff for the car with broken wheels.
Split Infinitive • An infinitive is a grammatical unit consisting of the bare form of a verb (without an –s) preceded by the preposition to: to choose, to explain, to dance, to go, to learn, to be, to brush • Splitting an infinitive is inserting an adverb between the sign of the infinitive (to) and the verb: to freely choose, to quickly explain, to gracefully dance, to boldly go, to really learn, to not be, to regularly brush • Some grammar purists and many traditional grammarians consider a split infinitive as a vice, an error.
Split Infinitives • are misplaced modifiers which are placed between the preposition to and the verb in an infinitive • Dentists encourage children to regularly brush their teeth. • The modifier regularly is splitting the infinitive to brush.
Revising split infinitives • Move the modifier to another part of the sentence: • Dentists encourage children to brush their teeth regularly.
THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE SPLIT INFINITIVE IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE • “To boldly go where no man has gone before” • The modifier boldly is splitting the infinitive to go.
THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE SPLIT INFINITIVE IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE • “To boldly go where no man has gone before” • Grammar purists want to move boldly: “To go boldly where . . . .”
Revising split infinitives • We hope that you will take the time to carefully examine this new textbook. • We hope that you will take the time to examine this new textbook carefully.
Revising split infinitives • The President promised to quickly name a successor. • The President promised to name a successor quickly.
Revising split infinitives • The most popular belief about the purpose of Stonehenge is that it was built as an observatory to mark the summer and winter solstices, the various phases of the moon, shifts in patterns of the stars, and to perhaps even predict eclipses. • The most popular belief about the purpose of Stonehenge is that it was built as an observatory to mark the summer and winter solstices, the various phases of the moon, shifts in patterns of the stars, and perhaps even topredict eclipses.
Split infinitives that should be avoided: An infinitive that is split by a negative word WRONG: Try to not belate. CORRECT: Try not to be late. WRONG: Liz and Angie try to not argueover which Backstreet boy is the cutest. CORRECT: Liz and Angie try not to argue over which Backstreet boy is the cutest.
Is this split infinitive correct?Does the modifier dangle? By selecting the 'I AGREE!' button, you are agreeing to allow an ITS Help Desk Technician to remotely access your computer for troubleshooting purposes.
Split infinitives that should be avoided: An infinitive that is split by multiple words WRONG: The manager expects to before the end of the month resign. CORRECT: The manager expects to resign before the end of the month. WRONG: Students should try to, during the first semester of their freshman year, satisfy the writing skills requirement. CORRECT: Students should try to satisfy the writing skills requirement during the first semester of their freshman year.
Some split infinitives are acceptable because the modifier cannot be moved without creating an awkward sentence. Police are looking for a suspect who tried to sexually assault a college student. Prices are expected to more than double next year. The company needs to substantially increase its level of investment.
Acceptable or unacceptable? • This issue concerns the people's right to freely choose.
Squinting Modifiers • are misplaced modifiers which seem to modify two words: • Patty who was walking quickly reached the club. • Is Patty walking quickly, or is she quickly reaching the club?
Revise squinting modifiers • by changing the word order so there is no ambiguity: • Patty, who was quickly walking, reached the club. • OR • Patty who was walking reached the club quickly.
LET’S PRACTICE!!! • Having encountered this problem many times before, the flat tire was easy for me to fix. • Having encountered this problem many times before, I could fix the flat tire easily. • I only have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. • I have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.
LET’S PRACTICE A LITTLE MORE!!! • In group situations, the people who participate sometimes can be annoying when they don’t know what they are doing. • …who participate can sometimes be annoying… • It is the citizens’ right to openly criticize the government without fear of being harassed. • …right to criticize the government openly without fear of being harassed.
